I took a little break from sharing the Good Mom series with you but I have been excited to get back to it (if you are new here go back and read all of the posts here). I am so passionate about the subject today! God is doing a new and very fresh work in my heart concerning fear. I thought I had this one down but God showed me that this is what the “bad mom mentality” is all about. So let’s overcome it together!
Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us.1 John 4:18
I’ve dealt with my fair share of fear in life. I know that there have been certain points in my life where I have bowed my knee to fear and given in to it’s grasp. I just didn’t realize how pervasive it can be in a mom’s life.
As moms, we have an opportunity to fear many things. We may fear that our kids will be okay. We may fear what others will think of us when our children act up. We may fear telling our husbands about mistakes we’ve made. We may fear messing our kids up. We may fear that they will not be safe while they are away from us. We fear that we are not good enough moms.
We may also fear how to balance life. Fear may invade our thoughts when we try to understand walking in our calling of being a mom and stepping out in other ways that God has asked us to.
BUT we are not called to give in to fear in the least!
That means that we are not supposed to agree with the temptation to fear in any circumstance. This can seem a near impossible task in light of all the ways in life there are to be sucked into fear. Fear is weighty. It is convincing and deceptive. It can seem like truth and feel like you have no choice but to yield to it.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear…” 2 Timothy 1:7
God never motivates us through fear but rather perfect love, which casts out all fear (Yes, we are to fear God but that is not the kind of fear we are talking about here). Fear cripples us and keeps us weighed down and in bondage. It holds us back from victory and from fulfilling our callings as good moms.
“Be anxious for nothing…” Philippians 4:6
So how do we learn to identify old fears and stand against new ones?
Ask the One who casts out ALL fear. Ask Him to show you all of the ways you fear. Ask Him for wisdom. Ask Him to make you aware of new fear when it comes up and replace it with truth (we’ll dive deeper into how to do this next week).
Pay attention to your thoughts and motivations. Are you motivated to do something or not do something out of fear?
It may help to write down all of the ways you are afraid and then write down scripture that speaks truth to that fear. Remember, “Every Word of God proves true…” (Proverbs 30:5)
My list would look like this:
I’ve been afraid that I’ll mess up this job of mothering.
My counter scripture for that is “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” Jeremiah 29:11AMP
I fear what others think of me.
I combat that with truth from Isaiah 2: 22 “Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath, what good are they.”
I fear not having financial security.
The truth: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33
I fear not having enough time to get everything done.
God’s truth for me: “You can make plans but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” Proverbs 19:21
Give your fears to God. Meditate on His truth and His love will begin to be perfected in you.
Moms who walk in the truth can lead and guide their children in truth with all confidence.
Can you imagine being confident that you are a good mom, and that you have a good, near and powerful God? Confident that fear can knock but you don’t have to answer? Look fear in the face today and tell it that you will be held captive no more. You are going to rise up with truth from your fear-squashing Savior and become ALL you are created to be and live life with faith and walk in truth.
I’m Excited! We are powerful when we overcome fear!
Really great post and encouraging. I never feared much until I became a mom. Then suddenly, I seemed to fear everything! Now I work hard at swallowing my fear – even though it still exists.
God did not give us a spirit of fear. And yet it wields such power over us.
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